Claustrophobic (Teddy Duchamp)

25

"Hey, Dad," Teddy said as he sat in the chair across from his father. He had asked for a moment alone with his dad.

"Hey, Teddy-boy. How're you doing, son?" His dad replied. He was doing better lately, the nurse had said, but Teddy thought he looked really tired.

"I'm great," Teddy answered. "I- I wanted to tell you something."

"Well, go on." He actually looked very interested.

"I wanted to tell you about my.... Well, my girlfriend," Teddy waited to see his father's reaction. He looked rather surprised. "Her name is Cecelia."

"Would you look at that... My boy's got himself a girl. I'm proud of you, son," the smiling man said. "How long have you been going steady?"

Teddy thought for a second. "About a week and a half." But it felt like years. He could hardly believe it had only been 10 days.

"Wow... I'm sure she's a fine girl. What'd you say her name was?"

"Cecelia. Cecelia Jamison."

"Her dad own that store in town?" His expression turned more serious.

"Yessir. Why?" Teddy was confused.

Mr. Duchamp frowned. "Never liked him much. He was a little too friendly with some ladies, even after he was married."

Teddy's eyes widened a little from this news. "What?"

"Nothing, boy. I'm sure she's better than her old man."

Teddy absently nodded. "I'm gonna go, so you can talk to Mom for a while. Okay, Dad?"

"Sure thing, son." Norman saluted his son as he exited the room.

Teddy returned the salute. He mind was reeling a bit.
_____
**warning: language (for those little Steve's out there if you got that I love you)**

"Oh horse shit, Celia," Franky dismissed. "You've gotta be stupider than I thought. Dad's not fooling around with anybody. Especially not Ms. Jackson. I'd hope she had better taste in men."

"Yeah, well, apparently her taste in men is our dad. For Pete's sake, Frank. I fucking saw it with my own eyes. One time, I walked into the store, and they were the only ones there and they were in the back of the store. Her hair was messed up and everything!" Cecelia was exasperated. "Why don't you believe me?"

Franky gave her a look of mixed disgust and annoyance. "Because I have faith in our dad, and I'm not trying to start shit in our family. Have you told Mom your piece of shit story yet?"

Cecelia glared at him. "I'm not trying to start anything. I'm just telling you what's going on. And no. What do you think I am? An asshole like you? No."

"Celia, why don't you just shut up? I can't believe you think Dad's cheating on Mom. It's unbelievable," he muttered, shaking his head. "Who got you on this? Your wack-job boyfriend?"

Cecelia's insides boiled with anger. She threw herself at her brother slapping him and hitting him. "You asshole! Don't talk about Teddy like that you fucking shit!"

Franky managed to shove her off of him, a bewildered and mad look on his face. "Maybe he's in your head worse than I thought."

"At least I'm not dating an airhead with no sense of decency," Cecelia spat at him.

He rolled his eyes. "Celia, shut up, you little bitch. I'll believe you when I see it for myself. The only thing that might change that is if dad told me himself, and he won't because he's not doing anything with Ms. Jackson." He looked coldly at his younger sister. "Now get out before it's time for Anthony to get in bed. I don't want him to hear any of your shit."

Cecelia angrily left the room.
_____

"Why are you so spacey lately?" Agatha asked Cecelia as they walked to lunch.

Cecelia snapped her attention to her friend. She had been replaying last night's argument in her head. "What? Oh. My parents are having issues."

Agatha gave her a sympathetic look. "Oh Celia, I'm sorry."

"What're your thoughts on Ms. Jackson?" Cecelia questioned randomly as they walked into the lunch room.

Aggie shrugged. "I dunno. She's alright, I guess, but she just rubs me as a whore or something. I can't quite place why, but I sure wouldn't trust my husband around her," she laughed. "If I had a husband, that is." They sat down at the table.

Cecelia absentmindedly smiled in response.

Teddy sat down at their table soon after. He looked bugged but still managed a smile to the girls.

Agatha looked at the both of them from across the table. "You both look pathetic. You have to be the saddest couple I ever did see." She shook her head in amused disappointment.

Cecelia tried to clear the thoughts taunting her. "So how'd you guys do on that English paper?"

Trying to wrap up and it's just not, so yeah. Hopefully the next couple chapters will cooperate w me (like I'm not the one that's writing it).

And ayye Aggie's back bc I hate when that one character disappears and you wonder if they died in the background. Anyone else? M'kay.

~Mariah